Seeing the need to help expand the number of students who qualify for admission to Texas Southern University, the AT&T Foundation has invested $100,000 in TSU’s highly-successful Summer of Success (SOS) program. TSU, the second-largest Historically Black College & University (HBCU) in the nation, created SOS four years ago in an effort to bring potential enrollees to the campus for an intensive seven-week summer program of coursework, tutoring and mentorship prior to the fall semester of their freshman year. With the SOS average success rate of more than 97 percent of the 1,200 plus students who have participated, the AT&T Foundation recognized the value of the program and made the decision to contribute.
“SOS is about recognizing the diamonds in the rough, polishing them, and helping prepare them for undergraduate coursework and a degree,” said TSU President Dr. Austin A. Lane. “We are thankful for partners like the AT&T Foundation that share our mission to help students become successful scholars.”
AT&T Foundation’s money will go toward several components of the SOS program, including mentoring services, supplies and resources for the program participants, and scholarships for those who successfully complete the program.
“The SOS program has been beneficial to me as a participant and leader within the program; I have seen the impact it has on our new Tigers,” said Ashley Johnson, a junior Political Science major who also serves as TSU’s Student Regent. “It’s beyond rewarding and incredible to allow these students an opportunity to write their own stories,” said Johnson, “The investment AT&T is making into our students’ future dreams is way more than I could ever ask for.”
The AT&T Foundation contribution was provided to TSU through the Texas Southern University Foundation, which is a non-profit organization that supports the mission of TSU. It does so by securing funds for the University; receiving, investing, distributing and accounting for all funds belonging to the Foundation; giving support both materially and through encouragement to the enhancement of the University; providing recognition of the achievements of students and alumni; and creating and fostering a sense of pride and spirit among the students and the alumni of the University.
“We are so grateful to count the AT&T Foundation as one of our partners to help invest in our students and our community,” said Vice President for University Advancement Melinda Spaulding, “We look forward to being good stewards of the resources they’ve generously donated.”
ABOUT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
Texas Southern University (TSU) honors our designation as a special-purpose institution for urban programming and research. TSU is a comprehensive university providing higher education access to the nation’s underserved communities. TSU’s academic and research programs address critical urban issues, and prepares its diverse student population to become a force for positive change in a global society. TSU offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs and concentrations – bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees – organized into 10 colleges and schools on a 150-acre campus nestled in the heart of Houston’s historic Third Ward. The University’s enrollment has a population of more than 10,000 undergraduate and graduate-school academic candidates. Texas Southern has been a distinguished educational pioneer since 1927, and the University has become one of the most diverse and respected institutions in Texas. TSU has positioned itself as a proactive leader in educating underserved students and many who are the first in their family to attend college.
ABOUT AT&T/AT&T Foundation
AT&T is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities, and improving lives. Through its philanthropic initiatives and partnerships, AT&T and the AT&T Foundation support projects that create opportunities, make connections, and address community needs where we – and our customers – live and work. Supporting education has been a major focus for AT&T for more than a century and education is our key philanthropic focus. We are driven to help students succeed — in school, in the workforce, and in life.
